Can you believe it is November? The first marking period is OVER! This is going too fast! I don't know where the time goes! So much more to do and hopefully enough time!  Listening - Football! This is really the first Sunday all season that we have sat down and watched some games! We planned on making some dinner tonight - wonder if we will get off the couch and do that! LOL  LOVING - Really! I am LOVING being a empty nester! Do you know how many grocery bags we used today???? FOUR! That's it! FOUR! It will last us all week too! And there was no junk in it! There was fruit that we will eat! I do LOVE and MISS my "babies" while they are in college. They are good though! They are doing their thing. They are getting ready to fly! That's how we raised them! They know they have a home whenever they need it. But I  we are really enjoying being just us too.  Thinking - Well, that was the plan all week in my head! HAHAHA Hubby had plans yesterday and I th...

Here is another good resource for writing. Carson Dellosa's Applying The Standards . This is a good resource to help students with using evidence based writing. It is a good start for teachers also. As we all get use to the new standards, we need some help too. This can not be used independently - at least with my kinders- but I will certainly use this as a resource to help keep me on track!  I would love to have these in a Smart Board format to share large screen with the class. The book has included a lot of information - Common Core alignment chart, assessment rubric, writing checklist, writing process packet and a key for planning and implementation.  They have graphic organizers too. I really think this is a resource that I will be able to use to model and work together. I like the fact that it has checklists for the students = there are visuals and words. What a good way for the kids to make connections. There is a checklist for the five steps of writing- brainstorm, dra...

Always looking for new ideas for writing. Not my strong suit. As I sit and type a review! lol Anyway - I like these  Story Starters  for the ideas. This is the opinion set. There are 36 cards. More than enough for kindergarten. I can't use these independently in kinder. That is ok - at least I won't have to think of ideas when we are writing opinions! I can see these being great at a center in older grades. I think that K-5 range is so broad! I like that they give them different things to think about on each card. This will help the younger ones see what they need to include in their writing. Has some great higher level thinking skills going on! I like the different topics - can use them at different times in the year with different units. Great to use different writing skills with the different units. Here is a little video about the Curriculum Cut-Outs.    I participate in the Brand Ambassador Program for Carson-Dellosa and have received this pr...

OMG! These Math Challengre Curriculum Cut-Outs are so great! There are 5 for each skill. They are a great quick warm up, partner work, center activity, ticket out the door - whatever you need! There are cards for missing numbers, shapes,writing number sentences,counting, skip counting, missing numbers,and matching numbers to sets. They are aligned to the common core - very importatn.  What a great value! And they don't take up much space! I'm loving these! I haven't tested these to see if you could use a dry erase marker or not. I am just going laminate them to make sure. :-)  I love that I can use them for different skills and don't need to buy a whole bunch of different sets. I was afraid that they might be too difficult for my kinders to read and understand, but they will be fine! YEA!!! Great job  +Carson-Dellosa Publishing !    I participate in the Brand Ambassador Program for Carson-Dellosa and have received this product for free to review.   I p...

OH LIFE! It has been a crazy busy beginning of school. NOT BECAUSE OF SCHOOL! lol Family issues- it will all be ok- someday! So I got another package in the mail! In the box was Carson- Dellosa's Learning Targets and Essential Questions! I can't post a picture of it cause technology and I are not friends tonight apparently. :( Here is the link for them though: Complete Common Core State Standards Pocket Chart and Cards Starter Set   Any way - I was a little skeptical at first. I had  Complete Common Core State Standards Pocket Chart and Cards Starter Set. I wasn't sure what the difference was going to be. I really like these those. These make much more sense for my classroom. We use essential questions. These have essential questions. The cards are sturdy and they are two sided. Essential question on one side and I can statement on the other. The pocket chart is great - not too big. Doesn't take up precious wall space. I love that the cards are divided by subject ( tw...

So these interactive notebooks have been everywhere! The blogs are full of them. I haven't gotten around to trying them yet. It's on the to-do list for this year. Now I know where to start! Carson-Dellosa has made a great resource for Interactive Math Notebooks! It has some great features! The pages are perforated so you can easily take them out to copy. Or do you like to take them out and put them in page protectors in a notebook - by topic or as a whole book? Do you file them? I'm trying to get away from files! I don't mind books (well, I LOVE books) but the less paper around the better for me! I'm trying to keep things digital. Any how! Back to the book - It is set up with the 5 domains from common core. There are a few - EASY TO READ!-information pages with some visuals. OK - I teach kindergarten - I have the same attention span some days! LOL It explains interactive notebooks, how to get started, how to organize, plan and manage and even has a grading rubric. T...

Well, I am loving this new Carson-Dellosa Colorful Chalkboard Décor. Here is an official link!   http://ow.ly/QIn2a  This is a really a cute set!  It has a lot in the set too! There is a bday chart, calendar, incentive chart, all-purpose chart (this has one of those cute and popular banners going across the top), calendar pieces and a door label. I LOVE the colors – they are bright but not overpowering. It’s somehow perfect bright! It’s got that nice chalk look too – you know like you colored it in. So here are some of my thoughts about how I will use this – I haven’t started decorating my room yet! AGHHH!!! Well, I’ve been in rearranging and pairing down on furniture. Now it will be time to start decorating! So – the bday chart is pretty obvious. ;-) I’m going to laminate it first so I can write the names and dates on it year after year. I’m planning on adding the kinders pictures to it also. I’m thinking around it – each one by the month. I might use the cu...

I am sooo excited to share the news! I am a Carson-Dellosa Brand Ambassador! This is awesome! They send me products and I get to use and review them! AND…. There may just be a giveaway sometime!   Look at the size of that box!!! You know there is good stuff in there!! Now look at all the good things inside! I’ll be blogging about all them! So stay tuned So I need to tell you about the first product!       Carson Dellosa has done it again! I cannot believe that they read my mind! LOLI have been thinking about a common core checklist book and thinking about how to make one and then they did! SO MUCH EASIER! This is a fairly thin spiral bound book. Love that it can lay flat or be turned in half. (you know what I mean right? Only looking at one side of the book at a time! ) I’m hoping the spiral lasts through the year – that is the only thing with spirals – they can snag!  I was wondering though if it should have 3 hole punches also. Then I ...

Yes, it's late again! Really! I don't like being late! I hate it! It makes my stomach hurt. Sadly, it's becoming my norm though! What can I say? I'm sorry! You'll all forgive me though won't you? It's been crazy! I'm loving the boat theme. We never made it to the beach this summer. :( I'm hoping a weekend away with the hubs after school starts! We are planning on embracing this empty nest stuff! OK - I can't rehash all the stuff that is in there. You can read it and it's self explanatory.  I just wanted to get August up! Thanks for reading! 

Well, here we go again! It's that time  of the week when I am late to the party. Sadly I HATE being late! I cringe, I sweat, I rush to not be late! But somehow - in this blog world- I am late to the link up every week. MAYBE that will change soon when the kids leave for college and we are just two people in the house again. Come on! Let me dream!  OK Chapter 7! Why can't I be Debbie Miller? She is so smart! This is a short and powerful chapter. I kinda wanted it to go on a little more. I sat down in my comfy chair on the deck, had my feet up enjoying the BEAUTIFUL cool evening and then the chapter ended. The thoughts were going through my mind though!  I love Debbie's simple definitions of summative and formative assessments. I know them but love how she put them - that's what I want to tell the student teachers, the parents, and anyone that might ask. :-) You know sooo many people ask about them! The quote from Erma Bombeck is perfect also! How sad wil...

One of these days I will make it on the first of the month! lol Not my All Star that's for sure!  I love LISTENING to the quiet in the neighborhood from my back patio! It is one of my favorite places in  of the house! We got some great new adriondack chairs and a fire pit this summer. :-) The new dining table is coming soon to match too! Can't wait! I will cry when we have to put it all away MONTHS from now!  I do LOVE school! I just LOVE not having a set schedule in the morning! I have gotten better at getting up for school over the years - two kids and working 25 years will do that to a person! lol But oh- to just get up whenever (the kids take care of themselves now!), work out (if I feel like it), eat breakfast on the porch, read the newspaper, read facebook. It's just such a relaxing way to start the day!  I'm THINKING I need to stay home and get some stuff done on that list! haha That is the fun of summer though- spontaneous trips and visits! I...

Oh this just gets better and better! I want Debbie Miller to come to my school  classroom! I want to see her in action! I want to analyze every lesson now! Those questions on page 69! OMG!! Thought provoking! I want to make sure the kids are more engaged and participating in their learning! I love the quote from  Frank Smith says, "We can only learn from activities that are interesting and comprehensible to use; in other words, activities that are satisfying."  I remember reading Frank Smith in college! :) I knew I had a great foundation in education!  The whole computer file folder idea is great! I know I will be making one of those before I go back to school. Yes I'm with you  @ kindersmorgie - it will be laminated!  I also think that is a great way to start the kids thinking about their thinking. That is a perfect first lesson. I need to add more research into the class also. We do some, but not enough. I believe there will be many more schema ...

Chapter 4! Debbie Miller is making me think this summer! It's a good thing! I am really enjoying all this reflection about my teaching. What fun to be able to sit on the porch, listen to the soft rain, know dinner is in the oven and I still have the time and energy to blog! :) Happy summer!  Classroom Culture is HUGE! So is School wide Culture! That may be another chapter or book! lol So her big three things:   1) Putting my own Thinking on Display   2) Encouraging and scaffolding student thinking and 3) Intentional Use of Language  These can be some tough ones! Hopefully I will be honest with myself - and you!  Well, I think I agree with Greg at The Kindergarten Smorgasboard  when he said about putting thinking on display not just at reading time! This is where we have all heard it for years and we all know the benefit of it. We need to move beyond it though. We need to show them how we are thinking all day long! That will be hard! T...

OK OK - I'm late this week! I don't know what happened - well, yes I do- LIFE! I needed to take my 88 year old mother food shopping, visit the in-laws with my kids cause DD got home from study abroad and wanted to see them, and I HAD to go buy new adriondack chairs for the patio! They are very comfortable as I sit here and type! ;-)  You will all forgive me won't you?!?!? And the worst part is - I read the chapter early and LOVED IT!!! It is what I am thinking the most about this summer- ENVIRONMENT!!! I felt just like Katy did this year! I wanted to start all over with the arrangement and organization mid year! I tried here and there but it's busy and hard! And can be expensive! You know that right? I have 2 kids going to college this year!    I  want to get better at this this year! I want to start with a clean slate in that room. It's a great room. I just need to make it mine. I have lived in it for a year and I think I know some more about it a...

Chapter 2 is THOUGHT PROVOKING!!!!!!!  I am loving this book! I want to read the whole thing tonight! But I don't want to get too far ahead of the discussion! But I want to read it! OMG! This is a hard chapter cause it makes you think! It's good to think! This is the stuff that we should be thinking about! But are we? I hope so! I am trying my hardest! I know we all are! OK - I will stop using exclamation points. Hopefully. ;-) I <3 Debbie's (yes, I'm going to use her first name like I know her!) list of beliefs on page 17. I highlighted them. I agree with them. As I said yesterday, my classroom environment is a work in progress since I moved. It was organized for the students and I am hoping authentic. Our influence - OH MY GOODNESS! THIS IS HUGE! Am I perfect? NO!!!!! Do I regroup and apologize if I need to? YES! There are some days that are better than others. We are human. I want to do even more workshop format teaching. I am hoping to impleme...

I am so excited about doing this book study! I think I have felt this way for a long time but Debbie Milller has (as usual!) done a much better job of putting it into words!  I am sorry I am a little late getting to chapter 1 - my "baby" graduated high school last Wednesday! OMG - how did that happen??? I was just snuggling and giggling with him yesterday! And then it was the end of school - there has to be a better way?? WHY OH WHY do we have to put EVERYTHING away to just come back in a few weeks and put it back out???? It is crazy! I am NOT counting how few weeks we have between though! I'm living and having fun this summer! On to the book club... I just finished my first year in this classroom. I know I did NOT have it arranged the way I wanted to  have it. I was doing pretty good unpacking and then I couldn't go in for 2 weeks because there were mice in the school - my room was one place :(  -  and they needed me to stay out. So by the time I got back in, ...

It's February!!!  Oh my! It's February already! January went by fast! And we had NO snow days! A few delays and one early dismissal but no snow days! I'm glad! We have several built into the calendar and I would like those off. Then I can do what I want and have fun. I know! Snow days are fun too! But I'm hoping not to lose the make up days at Easter cause I don't want to use too many personal days! lol Well, this is always fun to link up with Farley at  http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2015/01/currently-february.html LISTENING - yes, the Super Bowl is on! It's been going on all day. Finally at the kickoff! My NY Giants aren't playing this year, so I'm not really caring which team wins. It's a nice night to sit by the fire and blog!  LOVING that I have plane tickets to go away this spring!! It's been a long time since I've been on a plane! I am soooooooooooo looking forward to visiting my daughter on her study ab...

Five for Friday!  OK It's NOT Friday and it's LATE on Saturday afternoon, but I'm linking up!!! I wanted to do this last night but I started report cards instead. I know! Crazy right?!?! Well, I got them done! I even updated the Data Binder! WOO HOO! So here I am!! So I'm linking up with Kacey at Doodle Bugs Teaching! This is a first for me! I've been planning all week! I even remembered to take some pictures! Feeling good about myself! haha OK This was last week but I'm still counting it! I'm a newbie here so I'm making my own rules! lol I did a Twitter Chat that Debbie Clement  hosts on a Tuesday night before Christmas. It's every Tuesday at 9. Practice is at 8. This week the guest EDU CELEBRITY is Mrs. Wills Kindergarten ! Can't wait! Just use the #teacherfriends and stop over! It's fast and fun!  Oh sorry - sided tracked! So any who! I won a song from Debbie! AWESOME! She sent two cause she thought I had to wait...

Looking forward to a fun week of winter activities! Doing lots of fun things - well I hope they are fun for the kiddos! My goal this week is to take pictures of the fun activities so I can link back to the great people and show them their products in use! Goal #2 is to take some before and after (which means I would need to do something)pictures of my teacher desk for #teachersgetorganized2015 Goal #3 do some decluttering at home - 15 minutes each day. How can it be January 11th and I haven't done that yet?!?! Goal #4 - which probably should be first goal - is to make my student teacher feel welcome in the classroom! Can't wait! I love having another person there to bounce ideas off of and laugh together at the kiddos.  Well, here's hoping for a two hour delay on Monday - a girl can hope! It might be a wintery mix...;-) Well - a small post, but a post! Trying to keep that goal of blogging once a week. I know it's nothing thrilling, sorry, but it's a start! Hopef...